BMEN: BS in Biomedical Engineering, Emphasis in Electrical Engineering
All BME degrees combine high-level coursework from mathematics, the sciences, engineering, and USC's general education program. The B.S. in Biomedical (Electrical) Engineering is an area of emphasis for students interested in the building of electronic biomedical devices. Your courses will begin with the BME core curriculum and then add a carefully selected course sequence that includes electrical engineering classes.
The sample 4-year schedules show the recommended sequence of courses for the BS in Biomedical Engineering, Emphasis on Electrical Engineering. The sequences listed ensure that all prerequisite and co requisite requirements are met and take into consideration the many courses which are only offered once a year, during either the spring or fall semester.
In many cases, it is not possible for students to follow the recommended schedule exactly. Factors such as an academic minor, AP or transfer credits, participation in sports, or the need for preparatory courses may necessitate taking courses in a different order. When a student deviates from the recommended course schedule, he/she should make an alternative four-year plan along with their academic advisor to ensure a timely graduation. It is important in the planning of an alternative schedule to consider the following:
- Prerequisites and co requisites
Many courses in the BMEN curriculum involve prerequisite and co requisite courses. - Class Scheduling
Not all classes are offered every semester. The catalog provides information in the course description about what term classes are being offered, but please refer to the Schedule of Classes issued during the pre-registration period.
Below you can find a sample four-year schedule for the BS BMEN degree, and a list of technical elective categories and courses.
All information contained here is summarized from the USC Catalogue and is considered non-official. For all rules, regulations, procedures, and outlines, please see the current academic year USC catalogue.
BMEN Program Course Plan Beginning Fall 2025
This course plan is for students who are following the program requirements established Fall 2020 or later. If you are following an earlier set of course requirements, please check with your advisor or consult the appropriate year's USC catalogue
A print-friendly version of this flowchart may be found in the Viterbi Undergraduate Handbook.
Your personal course plan sequence may vary due to numerous factors including AP exam scores, transfer coursework, and specific course choices.
BS BMEN: First Year: Fall
BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category A/B/C - 4 units
MATH 125: Calculus I - 4 units
CHEM 105a: General Chemistry - 4 units
ENGR 102: Engineering Freshman Academy - 2 units (Recommended elective)
WRIT 150: Writing and Critical Reasoning - 4 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: First Year: Spring
CHEM 105bL: General Chemistry - 4 units
MATH 126 or MATH 129: Calculus II - 4 units
GE: GE Seminar Category A/B/C - 4 units
BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category A/B/C - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Second Year: Fall
GE: GE Category C - 4 units
MATH 226: Calculus III - 4 units
PHYS 151L: Mechanics and Thermodynamics - 4 units
BME 202: Control & Communication in the Nervous System - 4 units
TAC 115: Programming in Python or TAC 116: Accelerated programming in Python or TAC 165: Introduction to C++ programming or TAC 168: Introduction to Matlab - 2 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Second Year: Spring
PHYS 152L: Electricity and Magnetism - 4 units
BME 210: Biomedical Computer Simulation Methods - 4 units
MATH 245: Mathematics of Physics & Engineering I - 4 units
EE 109L: Introduction to Embedded Systems - 4 units
BME Technical Elective - 2 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Third Year: Fall
EE 202L: Linear Circuits - 4 units
BME 423: Statistical Methods - 4 units
GE: Category A/B/C - 4 units
BISC 320L: Molecular Biology or BISC 312 Molecular Biochemistry or HBIO 301 Human Anatomy - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Third Year: Spring
BISC 220L: General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology - 4 units
First Track Course - 4 units
Technical Elective - 4 units
GE: GE Category A/B/C - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Fourth Year: Fall
BME 445aL: Senior Design Projects - 2 units
BME 403L: Physiological Systems - 4 units
BME 413: Bioengineering Signals & Systems - 4 units
Second Track Course - 4 units
Third Track Course - 4 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Fourth Year: Spring
BME 445bL: Senior Design Projects - 2 units
BME 415: Regulation of Medical Devices - 2 units
WRIT 340: Communication for Engineers - 4 units
Technical Elective - 3 units
CHEM 322aL: Organic Chemistry or a 400-level BME course - 4 units
BMEN Students choose an Analog Track or a Digital Track
Analog Track
Students who choose the Analog Track will take EE 338L, EE 348, and either BME 302 or EE 447 as their three Track courses.
Digital Track
Students who choose the Digital Track will take EE 250, EE 354L and either EE 454L, EE 459, or EE 477 as their three Track courses.
BME Organic Chemistry Option
BS BMEN students may choose to take either CHEM 322aL or an additional four-units of 400-level BME courses.
BMEN Technical Electives 2025
9 units of engineering technical electives, of which at least 4 units must be upper division BME courses.
Technical electives include all courses listed below. Additional courses can be requested by petition.
AME 201 Statics
AME 204 Mechanics of Materials and Structures
AME 301 Dynamics
AME 302 Systems
AME 308 Computer-Aided Engineering
AME 309 Dynamics of Fluids
BME 201 Biomedical Engineering Practice
BME 315 Introduction to Deep Learning with Biomedical Applications
BME 404 Computational Neuromechanics
BME 406 Introduction to Bioengineering in Medicine
BME 408 Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies
BME 410L Stem Cells and Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering
BME 412 Craniofacial and Dental Technology
BME 426 Basics of Biomedical Imaging: Ionizing Radiation
BME 427 Basics of Biomedical Imaging: Non-Ionizing Radiation
BME 430 Principles and Applications of Systems Biology
BME 431/AME 416 Mechanics and Transport in Medicine and Biology
BME 450 Introduction to Biosensors and Diagnostic Devices
BME 451L Fundamentals of Biomedical Microdevices
BME 459L Introduction to Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery
CHE 330 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
CHE 350 Introduction to Separation Processes
CHE/BME 489 Biochemical Engineering
CHE 460L Chemical Process Dynamics and Control
CSCI 103L Object Oriented Programming
CSCI 445L Foundations of Robotics
CSCI 455x Introduction to Programming Systems Design
EE 109L Introduction to Embedded Systems
EE 155L Introduction to Computer Programming for Electrical Engineers
EE 209 Foundations of Digital System Design
EE 338 Physical Electronics
EE 348L Electronic Circuits
EE 352L Computer Organization and Architecture
EE 354L Introduction to Digital Circuits
EE 454L Introduction to System-on-Chip
ENGR 301 Technology Entrepreneurship
ENGR 345 Principles and Practices of Global Innovation
MASC 310L Materials Behavior and Processing
TAC 308 Computer-Aided Design for Bio-Mechanical Systems
TAC 348 Making Smart Devices: Introduction to Electronics/Wearables
TAC 388 Developing Connected Devices
Choose one: TAC 115 Programming in Python or TAC 116 Accelerated Programming in Python or TAC 165: Introduction to C++ Programming or TAC 168: Introduction to Matlab
BMEN Program Course Plan Fall 2020 - Spring 2025
This course plan is for students who are following the program requirements established Fall 2020 through Spring 2025. If you are following an earlier set of course requirements, please check with your advisor or consult the appropriate year's USC catalogue
A print-friendly version of this flowchart may be found in the Viterbi Undergraduate Handbook.
BS BMEN: First Year: Fall
BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units
MATH 125: Calculus I - 4 units
CHEM 105a: General Chemistry - 4 units
ENGR 102: Engineering Freshman Academy - 2 units (Elective)
WRIT 150: Writing and Critical Reasoning - 4 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: First Year: Spring
CHEM 105bL: General Chemistry - 4 units
MATH 126: Calculus II - 4 units
GE: GE Category A - 4 units
BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Second Year: Fall
GE: GE Category C - 4 units
MATH 226: Calculus III - 4 units
PHYS 151L: Mechanics and Thermodynamics - 4 units
BME 202: Control & Communication in the Nervous System - 4 units
ITP 165: Introduction to C++ Programming - 2 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Second Year: Spring
PHYS 152L: Electricity and Magnetism - 4 units
BME 210: Biomedical Computer Simulation Methods - 4 units
MATH 245: Mathematics of Physics & Engineering I - 4 units
EE 109L: Introduction to Embedded Systems - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Third Year: Fall
EE 202L: Linear Circuits - 4 units
EE 250: Distributed Systems for the Internet of Things - 4 units
BME 423: Statistical Methods - 4 units
Technical Elective - 2 units
WRIT 340: Communication for Engineers - 4 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Third Year: Spring
BISC 220L: General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology - 4 units
First Track Course - 4 units
Technical Elective - 4 units
GE: GE Category A/B/C - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Fourth Year: Fall
Second Track Course - 4 units
Third Track Course - 4 units
BME 445aL: Senior Design Projects - 2 units
BME 413: Bioengineering Signals & Systems - 4 units
BME 403L: Physiological Systems
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Fourth Year: Spring
BME 415: Regulation of Medical Devices - 2 units
BME 445bL: Senior Design Projects - 2 units
WRIT 340: Advanced Writing- 4 units
Technical Elective - 3 units
CHEM 322aL: Organic Chemistry or a 400-level BME course - 4 units
BMEN Students choose an Analog Track or a Digital Track
Analog Track
Students who choose the Analog Track will take EE 338L and EE 348 as their two Track courses.
Digital Track
Students who choose the Digital Track will take EE 354L and EE 454L as their two Track courses.
BMEN Technical Electives Beginning Fall 2016
Depending on your catalogue year, three, four, or six units of technical electives are required
Select one additional 400-level BME course. Possible courses are: BME 404, BME 406, BME 410, BME 430, BME 450, BME 451, BME 459, or BME 490.
In addition to the 400-level BME class, you must take additional units of engineering coursework to reach the total Technical Elective unit requirement: TAC 348, TAC 388, or ENGR 301.
The remaining unit must be upper division engineering coursework.